Take Care Of Your Tools

Posted by 141drew Dec 1, 2009 at 11:04 AM and filed under Reviews & Features

Updated on May 28, 2021 at 11:37 AM

I actually found this in a 1961 Snap On Tool catalog, but apparently it also ran in the December, 1960 issue of Rod & Custom Magazine. There’s something wonderful about the entire article that I can’t quite put my finger on. Take the time and read it all… After doing so, I lined my vintage tool box with cork. Simply wonderful. Check it out:

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View thread (25 replies)

jmack

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

Don't be a fool...wrap your tool.

Zrexxer

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

And here we have hundreds of pages of discussion about how to store tools... the answers are all there, and it's so simple!

"Place tools of each category together, such as screwdrivers!"

My first real box years ago got lined with gasket cork; I'm glad I'm not the only one that did that.

justinmc

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

Awesome find! Its amazing how much things have changed. That top/bottom/mid combo box was huge at its time I'm sure. Now thats a standard box.

I like the cork.. anyone want to weigh in on how well it keeps stuff from sliding/rolling?

VegasBruce

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

Hadn't thought about cork. I always liked using carpet.

Old Donn

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

justinmc said:
Awesome find! Its amazing how much things have changed. That top/bottom/mid combo box was huge at its time I'm sure. Now thats a standard box.

We could get by with a smaller box back then, standard wrenches & sockets were all we needed. Add metrics to the mix now, and you need double the space.

Steevo

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

When I bought my first Snap-On box, the only drawer liner they sold was cork.
I know . . . I'm Oooooolddddd!

Now get back to waxing your tools . . .

Griff93

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

Forget waxing the tools, am I the only one who waxes their toolbox?

krusty the clown

Member Emeritus

Dec 1, 2009

Griff93 said:
Forget waxing the tools, am I the only one who waxes their toolbox?

spidey's gonna call you a nerd :lol_hitti

Griff93

Well-known member

Dec 1, 2009

Oh well. The paint fell off my last snap on box so I figured I better try to take good care of this one.

Weber1

Well-known member

Dec 3, 2009

Cork is definitely the way to go. I have even seen different color cork, including rolls of red. I just dont remember where I saw it.???

snorky18

Well-known member

Dec 3, 2009

Griff93 said:
Forget waxing the tools, am I the only one who waxes their toolbox?

If you're one of the guys that has a box that costs more than my car (which is most guys on here, and I have a cheap car), and it makes sense for me to wax my car, then it certainly makes sense for you to wax and protect your box :thumbup:

TAMPAGT07

Well-known member

Dec 3, 2009

Griff93 said:
Forget waxing the tools, am I the only one who waxes their toolbox?

Nope, you are not. I am a proud box-waxer. Nuthin like a shiny clean box. :beer:

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Falcon67

Well-known member

Dec 3, 2009

That top box with the lid that covers the drawers is familiar. I bought a used one waaaay back for $25. It was pretty scarred up, so I shot it with Competition Colors rattle can Metal Flake Purple ( :wtf:

) Gave it away some years ago. Worked great and haven't seen one like that in forever. That was about the only Snap On item I've every owned.

grego

Well-known member

Dec 3, 2009

I noticed the term " husky internal sockets", funny how they are now know as big f'ing allen wrenches!!
Good read and I too am a box waxer, can we start up a support group!!??
I remember my first craftsman tool box that I owned that was new and someone told me to always keep it wiped down with wd-40 to keep it looking shiny, it looked great until the wd lifted the paint right off the metal and I ended up with a crappy looking box, after that all my boxes were waxed.

crewchief888

Well-known member

Dec 4, 2009

i havent bought a new box in over 10 years, and that was a craftsman top box that i had in and out iof the back of my pickup and race trailer. that box has been through hell, it's broken in more places than i can count, and has been welded back together 3 or 4 times in the last 5 years. my old snapon kr 550/555 are sitting in the shop i work at. 90th aniversary harley boxes are in the garage at the house. 3 roller cabs, 3 top boxes, 3 drawer mid box,all various off brands and 4 snapon side boxes are at my rented building where i do all my work at. the snap on boxes are too heavy to be moving around, and they are safer from damage where they are.
i used to keep all the snapon boxes i had wiped down and waxed, but i never seem to have to time anymore.
i even told the wife if something happens to me, just call 3 or 4 of my buds and give them whatever they want, and sell off the rest. i sometimes wish i had all the $$ ive spent over the last 30 years back again, i could get a new tow vehicle, trailer and buold my garage here at the house and still have $$ left over.......

BWS

Well-known member

Dec 4, 2009

Can't say I ever waxed a toolbox.......simple green or some WD and an airblast.I do grease/lube the slides.Got 1/2 dz bigazz bxs of varying makes and the slides all work good.BW

stricht8

Well-known member

Dec 4, 2009

Griff93 said:
Forget waxing the tools, am I the only one who waxes their toolbox?

Oh no your not!

TudorWagon

Active member

Dec 5, 2009

I corked my tool box draws about 25 years ago and only just swapped it out for the black foam anti-skid stuff (you know, the stuff you find under carpets and such). I'm spacing on the name of that stuff. The only drag about cork is that you can't forget to wipe down your tools before putting them away. Cork gets dirty pretty fast if you don't. I really ike the new stuff and things stay put nicely.

JohnMcD348

Well-known member

Dec 7, 2009

That's really cool. I've been teaching my 6 year old son about different tools ans such and the one thing I tell him every time we are using tools doing work around the house I tell him: "If you don't take care of your tools, They won't take care of you." I didn't line my box with cork. I used the rubberized lining that they sell in rolls in the hardware section. Works about the same.

I bought him a couple of those small sets they sell every year at Lowe's/Home Depot that come with the safety glasses, a real hammer, pliers, wrench and two screw drivers. Whenever there's a small job around the house I have him grab his tool bag so we can fix it together. But I always remind him or have him tell me that line before we get started and after we finish while we clean up afterwards.

Last edited: Dec 7, 2009

Shadowdog500

Well-known member

Dec 7, 2009

I’ve never seen cork tool box liners. Where do you get it? I’ve been using the thin black mats for years.

I never even thought of waxing my roll away tool boxes. They both are about 30+ years old, and I think the dings, dents, and chipped paint give them character.

I used to work in a shop with a guy who never cleaned his tools. They always had grease all over them. He used to work on salt water boats, and he claimed his tools would rust if the weren't grimey.

Chris

gigidon

Member

Dec 8, 2009

I'm trying to determine what the vehicle is that he's working on!

bird55

New member

Dec 9, 2009

Looks to me, like he's running a Y block in that old hot Rod. Classy guy!

Toolhorder

Well-known member

Dec 9, 2009

I got a bunch of cork gasket maker in rolls that were on clearance at the auto parts store maybe a year ago. I'm thinking if I have enough I'll line a small hand box with it.